RIP Whitney Houston

Shock waves ran through the music and entertainment world on Saturday, 11 February, after vocal powerhouse Whitney Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hills Hotel just before the Grammies. RIP Whitney, your voice lives on...

Top stories

Motoring

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The 29 experienced motoring journalists who make up the jury which selects the South African Car of the Year have concluded their final evaluations in tough trials at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria and after the votes have been counted and audited the winner will be announced on the evening of March 14. Read more >>

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] General Motors South Africa has extended its popular Sonic range with the addition of two new sedans, an impressive baby diesel hatch and the first six-speed automatic transmission in the small car segment. Read more >>

Travel

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] There is no greater feeling of contentment than standing stark naked on your own private deck surveying an unbroken vista of pristine Africa, following an early morning skinny dip in your own private plunge pool and an invigorating outside shower. Well this is one place you might think of doing it... Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge. Read more >>

The luxurious De Hoek Country Hotel, situated at the foothills of the magnificent Magaliesberg Mountains, has taken a deep breath of renewed energy for 2012 and amongst its new offerings for guests, it is adding to its already celebrated function menu. Read more >>

Fashion

[Julie-Anne Pocock] Progressive opinions be damned, it's still fun to dress up and eyeball the who's who. It's not often that I climb into a pair of high heels, and it's even less often that I get to saunter into five-star fashion events. But the Red Carpet Fashion Show last Friday sounded like it was going to be an a lot of fun and who was I to say no to expensive champagne, Italian canapés and goodie bags? Read more >>

Movies

[Daniel Dercksen] A scrupulous and sincere scrutiny of first love and how its significance can change lives and last a lifetime. Fans who are familiar with the films that turned Marilyn Monroe into an iconic legend, and her tragic life story, will applaud this wonderful opportunity of sharing some tender and intimate moments with her. Read more >>

[Daniel Dercksen] From the spectacular opening sequence to its haunting last image, Martin Scorsese's passion as filmmaker, his incontestable craft in bringing a story to life, and his heartfelt sentiment towards the subject matter, are clearly evident in every frame of Hugo. It's a gentle giant, an endearing masterwork that celebrates film, boyhood dreams and hopes that fuel our desire. What impresses mostly about Hugo is that it never tries to outdo the minimalism and intimate nature of the story with self-conscious and overstated opulence. Read more >>

[Daniel Dercksen] There is life after death in this charming life-affirming look at the transformation of a family that is uprooted by an unforeseen tragedy, and how its consequences have a profound impact during a soulful journey to a new beginning. The end of happiness and the loss of love are only stepping stones to new horizons and strange adventures. Read more >>

Music

The Mail & Guardian says Whitney Houston, who was found dead in her bath at a Beverly Hills hotel room on Saturday, had had a brilliant career that saw her rise from a singer in a gospel church choir to become one of the best-selling female entertainers of all time. Read more >>

[Ruth Cooper] Up The Creek has been awarded a special place in my heart, perhaps because it coincides with my birthday, but even if this wasn't the case it would still garner the most love from me when compared to its younger music fest siblings. Anyone who has been lucky enough to venture the few hours' drive to Swellendam and floated down the Breede in a lilo's loving embrace will know what I mean. Free from pretention, corporate branding bombardments, hordes of teenage boys, howling gales and own-alcohol restriction areas, UTC blows all other CT fests out of their designated body of water, be it river, dam or creek. Read more >>

[Jana van Heerden] Every music festival has its little something that makes it unique. Up The Creek's USP is that it is awesome; it's like being on holiday. Only you can (legally) drink heavily alcohol-infused slushies on the beach and the entertainment is a real live act and not some obscure R'n'B act blaring from a cellphone speaker 10 metres away. Read more >>

[Jordan Scott] It is unfortunate that something I was so excited to see turned out to be, well, disappointing to be completely honest. The first thing that went wrong was the venue change; on the website and Computicket the venue was still D'Aria Wine Estate. However, when we arrived there we found out the venue had been changed to the Ostrich Ranch. (Oh, and now hosted by Good Hope FM?) Read more >>

The next 5 Gum experience will feature Two Door Cinema Club in Joburg and Cape Town on 2 and 3 March 2012 respectively. Want to buy tickets? Well no, you can't. You need to keep an eye on the 5 Gum Facebook page for information to secure your spot or follow @5GumSA or the hashtag #5GumExperience on Twitter. Read more >>

Theatre

[Jana van Heerden] Queen At The Ballet is a tribute to Freddie Mercury created by choreographer Sean Bovim, whose dance company, Bovim Ballet, interprets the classic art form from a fresh point of view. By adding modern elements, such as rock music and even break dancing, the company succeeds in opening up ballet to a new audience. Read more >>

[Jordan Scott] Absolucy is performed by Lucy Tops, and Tops is definitely the appropriate surname. Lucy studied at the Waterfront Theatre School and not only is she an actress, but also a singer and recording artist (she has even sung in China at the Hilton hotel). She has performed in various productions, such as Glory Days, Dancing Queen, That 80s' Show and The Great Gatsby. Read more >>

South African Tourism's chief marketing officer, Roshene Singh, is now an Internationalist - and has joined very exclusive group that shows outstanding thinking in global brand communications. Read more >>

Government

The Department of Trade and Industry wants to run a regular small business census to help improve its support and funding to the sector as part of a revised policy to boost support to small businesses. Read more >>

Union and business representatives have welcomed President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address to Parliament and, while the speech was held by some observers to be uninspiring it contained a lot of detail about the government's plans to boost jobs and invest in infrastructure. Read more >>